The Daughter of Dr Jekyll *** (1957, John Agar, Gloria Talbott, Arthur Shields, John Dierkes) – Classic Movie Review 2764

‘Blood-hungry spawn of the world’s most bestial fiend!’ Director Edgar G Ulmer’s 1957 horror movie intriguingly merges the Jekyll and Hyde and werewolf stories.

Gloria Talbott stars as Janet Smith in this tale of a young woman who is informed by her wicked foster father Dr Lomas (Arthur Shields), a mad scientist himself, that she is the infamous Dr Henry Jekyll’s daughter. Janet learns that she may have inherited her father’s condition, and she begins to believe she’s a killer when people are found horribly murdered. Janet apparently turns into a rampaging werewolf by night!

Luckily for Janet, all is not what it seems and also her fiancé George Hastings (John Agar) is on the scene and able to help her out of this tight corner.

This shocker from cult director Ulmer is full of good ideas but is held back by its low budget, a muddled story by writer Jack Pollexfen and some clumsy handling. It’s obviously a problem that it that it takes 40 of the film’s 70 minutes finally to establish whether or not the daughter of Dr Jekyll is actually his daughter. But the scenario plays well on its heroine’s identity crisis and identity quest.

But, as usual with these Fifties horrors, if looked on with affection, it’s quite a lot of fun to watch. The actors are fine, it has an eerie, dark fairy tale atmosphere and is imaginatively shot by cameraman John F Warren, with effective monster make-up and blood effects for their day.

John Dierkes plays Jacob, Molly McCart is maid Maggie and Martha Wentworth is Mrs Merchant. It was released  by Allied Artists in a double bill with The Cyclops (1957), also starring Gloria Talbott. Although the film is set in the early 20th century, you can see a 1956 Chevy and a 1956 Ford drive by in the background!

Stuntman Ken Terrel stands in for Arthur Shields and a stunt double stands in for the monster version of the girl the fight scene. Ulmer set its action in a wooded region recently been burned by fire, then filmed in ultraviolet light.

Agar’s marriage to Shirley Temple on 19 September 1945 kick-started his film career. They had one child and divorced on 7 December 1950.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2764

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